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053606
MDHIAN 8644
RECEIVED A SINGLE FAMILY VISIT.
CHONG'S DAUGHTERS, IVY AND CHIRSTINE, HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THEIR LATEST VISIT TO PEKING AND ZHENGZHOU. AS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THEY FAILED TO ELICIT ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR FATHER OR THE BASIS FOR HIS DETENTION, OR ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCESS TO HIM. OFFICIALS AT THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY IN PEKING TOLD THEM THAT THEIR FATHER'S CASE WAS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. THEY WERE TURNED AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU IN ZHENGZHOU ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ANY OFFICIAL THERE TO MEET THEM. AN OFFICER AT A REMAND CENTRE IN ZHENGZHOU WHICH THEY VISITED DID HOWEVER CONFIRM THAT HE WAS BEING HELD THERE.
WE REGARD THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS CASE. DESPITE ALL OUR EFFORTS, AND THOSE (FOPR WHICH WE ARE GRATEFUL) OF THE NCNA AND HKMAO, NEITHER WE NOR CHONG'S FAMILY KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THE LEGAL BASIS FOR HIS DETENTION THAN WE DID IN 1991. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER HE HAS BEEN CHARGED: WHETHER THERE ARE PLANS TO BRING HIM TO TRIAL: OR WHETHER THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS HAS AUTHORISED HIS DETENTION FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING CHARGED: WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT SUCH AUTHORISATION CHONG'S DETENTION WOULD
BE ILLGEAL UNDER CHINESE LAW.
WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOW URGENTLY OBTAIN CLARIFICATION OF CHONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES AND PERSUADE THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY TO VISIT HIM.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
25
HKD
FED
CONSULAR D
HRPD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
25
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
MR ALSTON
3
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